DRC: Codeco militias incursion in Bunia questions the demobilization process
Soldiers from the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) patrol the abandoned village of Kaswara, 60 km southwest of Bunia, in the Ituri region, in eastern DRC (image by illustration) REUTERS
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In Ituri, the incursion into Bunia on Friday by Codeco militiamen continues to be debated.
These militiamen had left the bush and presented themselves to the provincial capital to demand the release of their comrades, but also better support from the government.
After discussions with the local politico-military authorities, they finally agreed to withdraw from the city.
This situation worries, but also questions about the demobilization of this militia.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa
,
Patient Ligodi
Among the questions that come up often, there is that of the financing
of the Codeco militiamen
.
Some deputies question the fact that this militia is still active and manages to face the power of the army and the police.
Mid-2019, Félix Tshisekedi asked himself the same question, and came to the conclusion that "
without additional support, these militiamen would not be what they are today
".
Several months later, this question is still unanswered.
The other question is that of launching an awareness-raising and negotiation operation led by the former warlords, without the DDR demobilization-disarmament-reintegration mechanism having been set up.
Already in January, a similar campaign was carried out.
More than 200 combatants had surrendered, but they subsequently returned to the bush, for lack of appropriate follow-up in their pre-cantonment.
For MP Juvénal Munubo, rapporteur for the defense and security committee of the National Assembly, the failure of DDR will always cause insecurity to persist.
He insists on the fact that we must learn from the past.
He is particularly awaiting the start of the parliamentary term to see whether the recommendations addressed to the Minister of Defense will be implemented or not.
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To read also: DRC: Codeco militiamen make an incursion into Bunia
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